The Patriots lost to the Saints in a close game that was as much about New Orleans’ defense as it was Tom Brady’s turnovers. Here are three takeaways from the disappointing Week 3 loss.
The 3 Patriots takeaways from disappointing Week 3 loss to Saints is a blog article that discusses the three most important takeaways from the New England Patriots’ 24-17 loss against the New Orleans Saints in Week 3 of the NFL season.
After a dominating victory against the New York Jets in Week 2, the New England Patriots were sent crashing down in Week 3. They were unable to keep up with a dynamic New Orleans Saints squad and were defeated 28-13, dropping to a 1-2 record.
There were many faults on the Patriots’ end that contributed to their loss, and Bill Belichick will undoubtedly need to go back to the drawing board and correct his team’s mistakes as quickly as possible. New England will have a busy week ahead of them as they prepare for a difficult battle against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4 action.
The following are three key lessons from the Patriots’ defeat against the Saints in Week 3:
3. The injury to James White will be a major setback for New England’s offense.
Although running back James White isn’t renowned for being a prolific scorer, he can make a significant impact to the club anytime his number is called on the field. Wisconsin’s talent has 49 receiving yards and 12 running yards in their debut game against the Miami Dolphins.
He then outperformed himself in the Patriots’ game against the Jets, when he led the receiving unit with 45 yards to go along with 20 running yards and a touchdown drive. White, however, fell awkwardly in the second quarter of their game against the Saints, sustaining a hip injury and was taken off the field.
The 29-year-old gained just six yards on a single reception and is likely to miss the rest of the season. His experienced leadership and expertise as a three-time Super Bowl winner will undoubtedly be missed by a new-look Patriots squad that is still establishing its identity on the field. New England has lost a key offensive weapon, but fellow running backs Damien Harris and J.J. Taylor are expected to step up for the time being.
2. The offensive line of the Patriots made many mistakes.
Mac Jones had a difficult day against the Saints, and his difficulties on the field were mostly due to the team’s offensive line. The whole unit seemed disconnected, with miscommunications about their individual screen passes and running schemes visible throughout the game.
Jones was forced to attempt many poor throws and take 11 hits from an aggressive Saints defense due to a lack of time in the pocket to make decisions. He also had no option but to utilize his legs and run the ball out of desperation, leading the squad in running yards with 28.
Jones, as brilliant as he is, will never be able to effectively manage the offense if the offensive line fails to provide him with enough pass protection in the pocket. Isaiah Wynn and the rest of the team should be able to regroup and take a stride forward in the coming weeks.
1. Mac Jones has a long way to go in his career.
As previously stated, the offensive line’s effectiveness determines Mac Jones’ ability to execute on the field. Given the circumstances, the Alabama product tried deep throws against the Saints after relying on short passes in his previous two outings.
However, their plans did not pan out the way they had hoped. Jones’ weapons, Jonnu Smith and Nelson Agholor, had numerous drops, which rendered their aerial assault ineffective. Unfortunately, the offense had a bad day in the same game that they faced an outstanding Saints defense, which prevented them from being in a position to win.
On the field, Jones was ineffective, completing 30-of-51 passes for 270 yards and a score for the Patriots. He also finished the game with three total interceptions, which isn’t a good indication for any team looking to win. New England has long been known for winning turnover battles, but they failed to do so against the Saints.
It would be unjust to place all of the responsibility on Jones, who had to cope with the situation he found himself in. However, it is fair to state that he has great potential and that he can certainly improve his abilities and play better in their next games. Hopefully, his growth as a QB1 in the league continues, and he can ultimately lead the Patriots to more wins this season and beyond.
The patriots draft analysis is a blog post that analyzes the 3 most notable takeaways from the Patriots’ disappointing Week 3 loss to the Saints.
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